National Heart Centre Singapore

 

Visit NHC Singapore's website 
 

Situation
National Heart Centre Singapore (NHC) is a tertiary referral centre under Singapore Health Services. This 185-bed facility is the national and regional referral centre for cardiovascular disease and cardiothoracic surgery, and is one of the many public health care institutions in the Republic of Singapore. In 2005, NHC became the first heart hospital in Asia to be accredited by JCI and was re-accredited in 2008.

NHC’s mission is to provide excellence in health care and initially sought JCI accreditation to improve its patient care processes and outcomes. According to Dr Teing-Ee Tan, senior consultant surgeon, Cardiothoracic Surgery, NHC wanted to “reinforce our commitment to quality care for patients as well as ensure a safe environment and continually work to reduce risks to patients and staff.”

NHC ultimately decided to obtain accreditation from JCI because it “has been widely recognized as an effective quality evaluation and management tool.” Dr Tan also adds that “the JCI accreditation process is designed to accommodate specific legal, religious, and cultural factors within each country,” which is an important consideration for a multicultural society like Singapore.

 

Results

Post-accreditation, NHC has experienced numerous positive impacts: increased levels in patient comfort and satisfaction, a safer environment for patients and staff, and improved staff performance. “More emphasis is placed on the quality of care for patients. And patients’ and families’ rights are given higher priority and respect,” says Dr Tan. In addition, staff leadership and governance have been strengthened and a systematic approach has been established for individually assessing the “clinical quality” of medical specialists. Professional policies and guidelines have also been established to standardize care and improve clinical outcomes.

Another outgrowth of JCI accreditation was an improvement in NHC’s care and service delivery. The risk for medication errors has been reduced with improved storage and labeling of medications. Also, the risk of harm to patients, including the threat of patient falls, has been reduced, thanks to the implementation of new protocols. Better patient identification processes have helped ensure that patients receive the proper procedures and medications. Communication and patient education have also been enhanced and made more effective, helping to increase patient satisfaction.

Since becoming accredited by JCI, NHC has experienced a boost within Singapore’s health care community. “Other hospitals in the region have approached us to find out how JCI accreditation benefits the organization,” reports Dr Tan. NHC has also experienced a gradual influx in foreign patients. As the first heart centre in Asia to receive JCI accreditation, this designation “re-affirms our high standard of care provided to patients, which will help further enhance our marketing efforts in the overseas market.”